Airplane



H. A. HICKS July AIRPLANE Filedv June 25, 1930 I INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD A. HICKS, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO FORD MQTOB COMPANY, 01 DEARBORN,MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AIRPLANE Application filed June 25,1930. Serial n. 488,674.

The object of my invention is to provide 1 an airplane'having animproved type of pilots seat,- which seat shall be exceptionally strong,of simple construction, relatively light in weight and inexpensive tomanufacture. More particularly, my improved type of pilots seat may bevery easily adjusted, a very desirable feature wherea number of pilotsof different stature are employed to operate the plane. A further objectof my invention is to provide an adjustable pilots seat, the variouspositions of which will be so controlled that pilots of differentheights will assume the 1 same positions relative to the airplane con--trols when the seat is adjusted to their individual requirements. Toaccomplish this desired result. the seat is arranged to move bothrearwardly and upwardly to accommodate taller pilots in contrast to theconventional adjustable seat which is arranged to move only rearwardly.

Still a further-object of my invention is to provide a novel means forlocking the seat in any one of its various positions, this means beingeasily released by the pilot even when he is sitting in the seat so thatthe adjustment thereof may be quickly and accurately accomplished. Withthese and other objects in view my invention consists in thearrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts of myimproved device, as described in the specification, claimed in my claim,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the forward portion of an airplanefuselage, parts being broken away to better illustrate the position ofthe pilots seat in relation to the airplane controls. Figure 2 shows afront elevation of my improved pilots seat. 1

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the seat adjustment locking device,and v Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic view illustrating two positions inwhich the seat may be adjusted, particular reference being had to thearrangement whereby the pilot'assumes the same relative position to thecontrols in each case.. 3

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the referencenumeral 10 to indicate generallythe fuselage of an airplane, the forwardportion of which is partitioned off to form a pilots cockpit. 'The roofportion and up er part of the fuselage adjacent to this coc it isprovided with a plurality of windows 11 to allow clear vision by thepilot. A partition 12 forms the rear wall of the cockpit,- whichpartition extends in a vertical plane across the fuselage and ahorizontal floor 13 isprovided in this cockpit which is spaced from thebottom of the fuselage. An

aileron and elevator controlling member 14 is' pivotally mounted on thefloor 13 and my improved pilot seat is placed directly back of thismember so as to be conveniently operable therefrom. Likewise, a pair offoot operated pedals 29 are disposed directlyin front of the pilots seatto control the rudder of the plane.

My improved pilot seat consists of a flat seat portion 15 having acurved metal member 16 forming the back and side members to form what istermed a' bucket type seat. Sheet aluminum is preferably used for themember 16 due to its lightness. A pair of tubular supporting members 17extend vertically from the floor 13, to which they are secured byflanges 18, upwardly one on each side of the seat 15. These tubularsupports are bent rearwardly at a point adjacent to the seat 15 so thattheir upper ends 21 extend in a diagonal direction rearwardly andupwardly to the partition 12 where they are secured thereto by flanges19.

A pair of spaced brackets 20 are secured to each side of the member 16in position so that diagonal portions 21 of thetubes 17 mayextend-therethrough when the seat is in its normal slightly tilted backposition. These diagonal portions are of suflicient length that the seatcan be moved a considerable distance along the inclined tubes to therebysimultaneously raise and move back or lower and move forward the seatfor adjustment.

- Each of the lower brackets 20 is provided with a lever 22 pivotallysecured'at 23 to the under side thereof, the outer ends thereof forminghandles, while the inner ends are provided with plungers 24 arranged toex tend through openings in the brackets in position to contact with theunder side of the tube 21. A plurality of spaced openings 25 areprovided in the under side of each tube portion 21, these openings 25being in posi-' tion so that as the brackets 20 are moved along theplungers 24 will successively become aligned with each of the openings25.

Suitable leaf springs 26 co-act with the levers 24 to resiliently urgethe plungers into the openings 25.

To adjust my improved seat, the pilot while sitting in the seat gripseach of the lever handles thereby releasing the plunger-s has its spacedends welded to the respective upper portions of the vertical tubemembers 17. The apex of this V shaped brace is provided with a flange28, which flange is secured to the floor 18 between the flanges 18 sothat the two uprights 17 are effectively braced against lateralmovement.

Referring to Figure 4, I have shown the I; rudder control members 29 inposition to be operated by movement of the pilots feet to control thecourse of the plane. It will be seen from this view that a pilot ofrather small stature, as. illustrated by the full lines 30, will requirethe seat to be placed in the position illustrated by full lines 31. However, if a pilot of larger stature, as illustrated by dotted lines 32',is to be accommodated and he is to assume the same correct positionrelative to the airplane controls, the seat must be moved bothrearwardly and upwardly to the position shown by dotted lines 33. Thisfeature is of primary importance in connection with the operation ofairplanes for the reason that the pilot must become familiar with thefeel of the plane before he can safely handle it. With my improveddevice the pilot may readily adjust the seat to the position in which hehas been accustomed to operate an airplane.

It will be noted from Figure 4 that a line extending up from the ruddercontrols 29 through the forward edge of the seat 15 .extends parallel tothe locus of all the various positions of the seat so that regardless ofthe size of the pilot the seat may be readily adjusted to meet hisrequirements.

Among the many advantages arising from the use of my improved device itmay be well to mention that Ihave provided a simple, in-

fit his various requirements and still retain I the correct positionrelative to "the controls.

Some changes may be made in the arrangement, construction andcombination of the various parts of my improved device with- 1 outdeparting from the spirit of my invention, and it is my intention tocover by my claim such changes as may reasonably be included within thescope thereof.

1 claim as my invention:

In an airplane construction, a partition disposed across the airplanefuselage forming a pilots compartment, said" compartment having footoperated controls therein spaced forwardly from said partition, a pairof laterally spaced tubular supports extending upwardly in a'verticaldirection from the floor of the fuselage, the upper ends of saidsupports being bent rearwardly and upwardly in a diagonal direction andfastened to said partition, a bucket-type seat inserted between thediagonal portions of said supports, said seat having a pair of bracketssecured to each side thereof in which the supporting tubes arereciprocally mounted, said brackets and the incline of the supportsbeing so proportioned that when the seat is reciprocated on the tubesthe forward edge thereof will move in 'a line which intersects saidcontrols, a series of openings in one of HAROLD A. HICKS.

